Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents seized more than 2,900 pounds of marijuana, 10 pounds of cocaine and almost 18 pounds of heroin in multiple seizures during the past week.
A canine team, along with the Ajo Station’s All-terrain Vehicle Unit and Mobile Response Team, responded to a report of suspicious activity Nov. 26 east of Lukeville, Arizona. Upon arrival, agents discovered tracks left by a group traveling northbound and subsequently discovered 56 bundles of abandoned marijuana worth an estimated $651,000. A search of the area was conducted but no subjects or additional contraband was located.
Later that evening in the eastern corridor, a Douglas Station agent assigned to the Hedglen Forward Operating Base teamed up with an Office of Air and Marine unmanned aerial system to locate a suspected drug mule east of Douglas, Arizona. Agents then apprehended a male Mexican national found in close proximity to a backpack full of cocaine worth in excess of $100,000. A small amount of marijuana was also found in the bag. The subject will be prosecuted in accordance with Tucson Sector guidelines.
On Nov. 30, Tucson Sector agents, assisted by detection technology and a National Guard helicopter, located an abandoned Chevrolet Silverado near Queens Well, Arizona, loaded with more than 1,600 pounds of marijuana. Agents seized the marijuana, worth an estimated $800,000, and vehicle for processing according to Tucson Sector guidelines.
Early Monday afternoon, Nogales Station agents encountered a Chevrolet Impala during an immigration inspection at the I-19 checkpoint near Amado, Arizona. Subsequent to an open-air sniff conducted by a Tucson Sector canine, agents located 12 bundles of heroin, worth more than $252,000, under the vehicle’s back seat.
All contraband will be turned over to the Drug Enforcement Agency.